ICFP: Four Takeaways from the 4th International Family Planning Conference
ICFP: Four Takeaways from the 4th International Family Planning Conference

Three weeks ago, nearly 3,500 family planning researchers, program managers, and policymakers came together in Nusa Dua, Indonesia to discuss the latest research findings and best practices on family planning at the 4th International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP). It was the largest gathering of family planning enthusiasts to date.
Nearly 30 MSH staff from 8 countries attended ICFP, showcasing our health systems expertise and experiences in family planning.
Thank you to everyone who made #ICFP2016 such an incredible event. Together we will move #FP forward! pic.twitter.com/KKU0gNXSCb
— Meghan Guida (@meghanguida) January 28, 2016
#ICFP is trending on Twitter! Let's make it continue @FP2020Global @EngenderHealth @fhi360 @MSHHealthImpact @IntraHealth @UrbanRH @GatesJHU
— Knowledge for Health (@K4Health) January 25, 2016
Moving forward, it is clear the following four areas are critical for the international family planning community to prioritize:
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Youth. Youth are—and must continue to be—at the forefront of the family planning agenda. From the historic number of youth attendees, youth involvement in conference organization and session moderation, to the engaging and illuminating technical content of oral sessions, posters, and side events, youth leadership and participation rang loud and strong throughout the three-and-a-half days. Key topics at ICFP and for the future include: innovative and effective family planning programs for youth, meaningful participation in health programming by youth, strengthening the voices of youth for family planning, and research around youth contraceptive needs, desires, and access.
How did #YouthLead during #ICFP & #ICFPyouth? @MeghanGuida explains: https://t.co/d7aYpw4DoW pic.twitter.com/5ZzRn9rxuv
— LMG for Health (@LMGforhealth) February 5, 2016 -
Country ownership. The theme of the conference, “Global Commitment, Local Action,” could not be more true: Change cannot happen without local actors driving the process for family planning achievements.
37 countries have now made commitments to #FP2020 and this number is ever expanding #UHC @ICFP2016 pic.twitter.com/mlkQ33pf4I
— MSH (@MSHHealthImpact) January 26, 2016Ministers from India, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Indonesia share best practices & commitments #ICFP #LetsTalkHTSP pic.twitter.com/N1NU2HwnoD
— Aaron Brose (@aaronbrose) January 26, 2016 -
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those for universal health coverage (UHC), require family planning to be part of the conversation. Family planning is integral to achieving global goals for health and development. Incorporating family planning and reproductive health in universal health coverage mechanisms can help increase access and achieve the SDGs. Increasing access to voluntary methods of quality family planning helps reduce maternal mortality, prevent child deaths, and contribute to an AIDS-free generation, and will amplify progress made in economic development, education, environmental protection, and other development arenas.
#FamilyPlanning incl in 2 goals related to health—yet all 17 #SDGs are “17 good reasons to support FP” https://t.co/3eTZxADDho #ICFP
— USAID Global Health (@USAIDGH) February 11, 2016What are key actions for prioritizing SRH as part of UHC? https://t.co/LJEwiZ3acz #ICFP2016 https://t.co/lV93IPj4Dd pic.twitter.com/cuLelD10dH
— MSH (@MSHHealthImpact) January 22, 2016 -
Accountability. With many more countries and organizations making commitments to Family Planning 2020 (FP2020), it is critical that the global family planning community hold ourselves accountable to meeting those commitments. It is great (and somewhat easy) to make a commitment, the hard part is to follow through on them.
#ICFP panel discusses universal access to family planning: https://t.co/ROcEb5md6O #UHC @RH_Supplies pic.twitter.com/a52gv9iVQx
— MSH (@MSHHealthImpact) February 20, 2016Martha Murdock of @MSHHealthImpact: no mandatory reporting on SDG indicators - it’s up to us to push for accountability! #Act4FP #ICFP
— MSH Policy&Advocacy (@MSHACTS) January 26, 2016
Get involved
Join MSH and others as we continue to increase access to quality, voluntary family planning by strengthening health systems and showcase the voices of family planning, especially youth.
- Sign up for a global inter-organization community of practice on youth (organized by the YouthPower Initiative).
- Tell us about your youth leadership program by taking the Youth Lead Global survey.
- Learn more about MSH’s approach to family planning and UHC and our work in accountability and the FCI Program at MSH.
Amazing #ICFP2016 closing songs by #youth delegates! #ICFPYouth go out with a bang! pic.twitter.com/0CIToPGHdt
— Meghan Guida (@meghanguida) January 28, 2016
Join other top #youth #leadership programs by completing our #YouthLead survey! https://t.co/Pu7w46izvh pic.twitter.com/WuStnbBBbJ
— LMG for Health (@LMGforhealth) February 11, 2016
" #Leadership & #management was mainstreamed by @MSHHealthImpact " @MargueriteFar19 @USAIDGH #ICFP #FPleadership pic.twitter.com/DOwVGp7dwV
— Eva Ros (@emrg8) January 26, 2016
Related
ICFP: Youth: Today’s Family Planning Leaders
ICFP: Ensuring Access and Accountability for Family Planning through Universal Health Coverage